How an Easy Change in Your Footwear Can Ease Pain and Improve Your Movement

It may be our best kept physical therapy secret

to ease muscle tension and decrease pain.  It may

also be the easiest change you can make to maintain an

active and healthy lifestyle. And it has to do with your

footwear.

Are you interested in a “quick fix” to protect your joints,

limit break down, and decrease stiffness?

Do you want to continue to exercise for years to come

with less pain?

In order to move, exercise, work, and live without pain,

you  need to have your all your joints aligned. . . from your

feet, ankles, knees, hips, back.

In order to change your joint positioning, you must start

at the feet.  You do this by changing the inside of your shoes.

Most shoes offer little or no support or protection for your

joints.  But just like the foundation of your house, your feet

are the foundation of your body.

You know a house with a poor foundation will not withstand

wear and tear and you would expect future structural

problems.  The same is true for your body. A faulty

foundation can result in many foot problems. In fact,

you have over 30 joints in each foot that degenerate with

age.  Additional foot ailments include:

• Bunions
• Hammer toe
• Plantar fasciitis
• Morton’s Neuroma

The more pronounced, and less widely realized problems

occur in places other than the feet.  A misaligned and

poorly supported foot can result in:

• knee pain due to incorrect movement of the knee cap
• early onset of arthritis
• problems with the hips and pelvis
• persistent back pain
• shoulder or neck pain if the problem is longstanding

So how do you improve your foundation and decrease the

risk you will experience these problems?

We suggest orthotic inserts added to your regular shoes.

Let’s talk about why an orthotic actually does help, and

why not just any “insert” will do.

What does an orthotic do?

An effective orthotic changes the way your foot reacts

during the walking cycle.  They are often used to limit

motion such as excessive pronation (rolling in) or

supination (rolling out).

It is much more than an “arch support,” it realigns the

structure of the foot and lower leg.  This prevents

misalignment of muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

So what?

Misalignment leads to premature fatigue and pain. As

your foot rests on a properly constructed orthotic, it is

gently and consistently directed into the correct

position for walking, running, and standing.

Why not buy drug store orthotics “off the shelf”?

Everyone’s feet and body type are very different.  The

aches and pain you experience when standing or walking

are varying as well.  Thus, a product needs to be chosen

carefully based on your  body and with the end result in

mind.

In addition, orthotics must have some rigidity because the

point is to provide support for the foot and other joints

throughout your body.  Soft flexible material will collapse

and although they may offer temporary “comfort” due to

cushioning, your symptoms will persist.

Will orthotics really make a difference?

Addressing your feet is not so glamorous, but very

important to your health and active lifestyle.

One example . .  Jack Nicklaus tells us that in golf

       “all timing, distance and direction comes

               out of the lower body with the feet

                             leading the way”

An appropriate orthotic will make a significant difference

in your current pain and performance.   Furthermore, it

will undoubtedly prevent future (ore premature) joint

breakdown.

Back to the golf example – a study found that an addition

of a correctly prescribed foot orthotic was associated with

3-5 mpg increase in club head velocity among experienced

golfers.  Hence, orthotics may be a very important piece to

your healthy aging puzzle – from your toes all the way up

to your swing.

In conclusion, orthotics are just one piece of a

complex puzzle.  To truly improve the way you stand,

walk, run, or swing you need to address strength, posture,

footwear, and movement patterns. In addition to these

things, the orthotics will adjust your biomechanics.

If your movement, stamina, or sports performance are

limited by pain or stiffness, let’s discuss how orthotics can

play a role in improving your alignment and motion.

Inquire HERE today about our prescription orthotics or

talk to one of our therapists about your concerns.